Dispensing cabinet for cigars, etc.



Oct. 11, 1932. A. B. VALAS 1,882,168

DISPENSING CABINET FOR CIGARS, ETC

Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0a. 11, 1932. A. B. VALAS 1,882,168

DISPENSING CABINET FOR CIGARS ETC Filed June 50, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1932. A: vA s 1,882,168

DISPENSING CABINET FOR CIGARS, ETC

Filed June 30, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JljZezwziwfiWaZau 6 7 Patented st. 11, 1932 ALEXANDER? VALAS, 0F Marrow, MASSAGHU ETT nrsrnnsme CABINET ron-omens, arc.

Application filed June 30, 1931. s rial No. 547,849.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet for cigars, cigarettes or the like, matches, or Other more or less analogous articles, with which are associated devices for removing the articles one at a time from magazines in which they are stored, and presenting them to the user. Inthe illustrated embodiment I have equipped the cabinet with a mechanical figure in the form of a 'man if) having movable arms and hands which are adapted to grip a cigar or cigarette in one hand and a match in the other and hold them out to the user. separate magazines for cigars and cigarettes, together with a switching device shiftable so as to enable either cigars to be delivered from one magazine into the hand of the mechanical figure, or cigarettes from the other magazine. Associated with these parts-are i1) mechanisms adapted to be driven manually for transferring cigars or cigarettes, and matches, one at a time, to the hands of the mechanical figure, and moving the arms of the figure in the required way.

t is to be understood, however, thatthis embodiment is not exclusive and that equivalents of the various parts and combinations thereof may be provided in other forms for accomplishing the same purposes with re- 36 spect, not only to the specific articles above mentioned, but also other articles which may be dispensed or delivered in a similar way.

The invention consists in the combinations and means above referred to, in the specific forms here illustrated, and in equivalent embodiments; as will appear from the following explanation and claims.

In the drawings herewith Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cabinet em bodying this invention represented as though one of the sides were removed to show the interior.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cabinet represented with the detachable top or cover plate removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2; r I

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the cabinet on a smaller scale than the preceding figures;

Fig. 5 is a'front endelevation;

The cabinet also contains Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are sections taken on lines 6''6,' 77, 88, 9+9 and 1010, respectively, of Figs. land 2;

Figs. 11, 12 and-l5 are detail sectional views of the match carrying hand and arm of the i;

"mechanical-figure, showing the same in dif ferent positions; igs. 1a: and aredetail sectional views of the cigar carrying hand or gripper of the mechanical figure, showing the same in its action of gripping a cigar and a cigarette, respect y? 1 V Fig. 16 isa detail view showing in partial section and partial elevation the escape device which allows cigars to pass one at atime from the magazine to the delivery channel. 7 Like reference characters designate Y the same partsywherever they occur in all the r The apparatus comprises a cabinet or box '1 having a removable top or cover plate2,

and divided internally by partitions 3, 4, 5

and 6 into a rear compartment? which contains the major portion a of the operating mechanism, "a magazine 8 for-cigars, and a magazine 9 for cigarettes, said magazines being in the centra'lpart of the cabinet and separated from one another-by the partition 5 which is arranged longitudinally of the cabinet. Between the partition 4 and the front wall 10 0f the cabinet are intermediate partit'ions 11 and 12 which define a n'iche opening through the front wall 10and surroundedlby a frame 130n the outer side of's'aid front wall; in this niche iscontaihedi and made fast a mechanical figure having movablearms 15 and 16 which are adapted to swing about a horizontal axis near the upper end of the figure. Mechanically thefigure constitutes a support and bearing for a horizontal shaft 17,- (shown'dotted in Fig. 2), to the outer ends of which the two arms are made fast. Preferably, and in order to give an artistic or intersecting eflect,th'e figure is made in the likeness of a human being, being here shown 9 as the figure of a man in sitting posture; but this is a detail from which wide departure may be made without affecting the principles of the invention. The arms of the figure terminate in a'representation of hands which walls of the cabinet toa"lOWpOint-beneath are also mechanical grippers. The arm carries a rigid extremity '18 representing the main part of a hand, and a cooperating gripper 19 corresponding to .the thumb of the hand; while the arm 16 carries a rigid extremity 20 and a complemental thumb piece or gripper 21ad'apted to grasp between them a cigar 22, as shown in Fig. 14, or aicigarette 23, as shown in Fig.15.

In Fig. 8 the magazines 8' and 9 are shown: They have a common bottom 24" in detail. which slopes downwardly from both side the dividing partition 5, where there is a groove or channel 25' A shutter 26' is se-' .cured'to a shaft27, pivoted in the end walls 3. and a of the magazines directlybelow the partition 5, and is shiftable either'into the position shown in Fig.8, where it admits cigarsfrom' magazine 8into the channel 25 and excludes cigarettes therefrom," or into an opposite position where it excludes cigars 7 from thechannel andadmits cigarettes theretoout of the magazine 9. For thus moving the, shutter, a switch lever 28 is arrangedat therear of partition 3 andsecured toa shaft 29 which is journaled in the partitions :3: and

I Tlfand carries on ?its forward end an arm 30 discharged cigar into the open hand.

,,At the opposite side of'the niche is amaghavingapin and slotv connection 31 (Fig. 7) with an armr32 on theshutter shaft 27.

i There is a discharge. opening in the partition jazine for matches 35, formed. in part bythe 1 bounding wall 12 0f theniche, and in part bya-metal plate 36 secured to theside'ofthisf wallan'd spaced aparttherefrom; As here shown,,the match magazine hasa width only of one match,;but'1-it may be otherwise dej- Y signed provided its lower part is so formed asto direct matches oneat a time into achannel at the bottom of the magazine, in which a match ejector works. .4 Each of themagazines Sand 9 is equipped with; an escapeadevice which allows the con tainedarticlesto pass-one at'a time into the delivery channel 25. That in the cigar maga-' zine, comprises a fixed support 37 on the bot.

tom, a fixedledge 38 onthe partition wall 5,

,and' a swingingblade or plate39 pivoted be 7 'lOW the ledge 38. Between the nearest edges of the support 37 and ledge 38 is a space more than wide enough to permit passage of a cigar bygravity onto the bottomof the magazine, but not wide enough to admit two cigars side by side. The swinging plate 39 is pivoted on an axis at 40 spaced from th bottom more theposition shown in Fig. 8, where its free edge is spacedfar enough from the adjacent upper edge ofthe support 37 to permit one c1gar'onl' 'to' drop on the bottomQl, but'is near enough to the bottom tohold back the cigar which rests thereon. The plate may be swung upward-far enough to release the cigarresting onthe bottom, which then rolls to the lowest-"point of the channel 25, and at the same time it approaches the adjacent top "edge of'support' 37 closely enough to arrest the next followingicigar. On return to normal position it allows such next cigar-to fall in turnon the magazine bottom,

Such plate may be consideredas gate which cooperates: with the, abutment cou- .stitutecl by the adjacent upper edge ofsupport 37, to-release cigars, one at a time, and inxa succession of two steps each, from the magazine tothe delivery channel.- I t 7 An escapement in j the cigarette magazine 9 similar to that-just described, is constitute ed;by a gate 42. cooperating with a support and abutment43 and a ledgeaa. The means for swinging the escapement. gates in opposition tothe pressure of their sp'ringsis later described. r I V In order to limit thenumber of pieces adj acentt'o the escapement, and to prevent them from being jammed 1 and crowded by -the weight of superposedpieces so that they will not pass freely through the gateway, I pro-- vide ledges or;s'heds 45 and 46 in the respective magazines, each of which extends from the partition 5 toward the outer wall of the magazine farenough to leave room for pass-' is supported bytheoflt'set end 49 (shown dotted in Fig. 2). of a rod 50, which is rotatably supported in theside wall 12 and ontheouter end-ofwhich is fastened a handle 5L These parts constitute a crankvmechanism by, which cigars resting on it, in case they, should become ammed and farlhto pass through the space at its outer end The shedin the cigarette magazine is similarly supported by hooks and e'yes52 and akcranlr5'3 on a rod 54 j ournaled inthe wall 11 and having ahan'dle55.

A'pusher 56, shown best in Fig. 9., is pro vided by the end'ofla-rack bar which is adapt ed to slide on thebottom; of channel 25, and in an extension guide 57 supported between the partition wall 3 and therear wall of the cabi- 'net. This pusher bar is provided withlrack teeth 58 on its upper side and meshes with a driving gear 59. It is adapted to travel between the advancedposition, shown in Fig. J11

on a main or driving shaft 66. The latter shaft is rotatable by a suitable actuator 67, which is here shown as a double crank fixed on the end of the shaft outside of the rear wallof the cabinet, but for which may be substituted. any one of anumber of equivalent actuators well understood by those skilled in the art. A spring 68 normallyholdsthe main shaft and gear segment 66, in the positionshown in Fig. 3, wherein it is in mesh with pinion 64:, in which position it maybe arrested by a suitable stop, later described. Nlien theactuating crank or handle is turned 1n the direction indicated by the arrows on Figs. 2 and 3, the pusher rod is advanced by means of the intermediate mechanism described, pushing out the cigar or cigarette which may be lying in the channel 25 at the bottom of the magazine. The door 33 which normally closes the exit opening in the partition wall a is controlled by the pusher rod or bar throughthe agency of a rod 69 (Fig. 2) which is sl1dable enclwise in a guide 7 O and through the part1- tion walls 3 and f. It is constantly urged forwardly by a spring 71, secured to its forward end and anchored to the frame, and its rear end is offset to forma detent 7 2 engaging a lug 73 on the adjacent side of the push bar 56. On the forward end of rod 69 is an upstanding cam .or wedge finger 74 (Fig. 7 overlapping a lug 7 5 on the door 33. Thus, as soon as the push bar starts for ward, it allows the rod to be moved in. the same direction by its spring 71, whereby the door is released and allowed to open by gravity, or by a spring if desired, or by the pressure of the advancing cigar. The door is hinged at its bottom so that it opens forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, and it is arrested by a stop 7 6with its lug 75 somewhat higher than the hinge axis 7 7, in order to enable the finger 7a on retraction to close the door.

. A look is provided for automatically preventing the spring actuated return of the driving segment 65 until permitted by the operator. This lock, or obstructor, is formed by an arm 7 Swhich has a pivotal mounting in a socket 79 and a rearwardly bent extremity or spur 80 at its outer end. It is embraced by a fork 81 carried by a rod 82 which is adapted to slide endwise in guides 83. and has a push button 84; on its outer end at the rear of the casing.- A spring 85 surrounds the rod and is confined between the fork and the forward one of the two guides, normally. urging the rod to the rear. is so placed that it normally bears on the face of gear segment 65, under pressureof spring 85, at a point near thegear 64. In the pres- .ent embodiment, the segment constitutes approximately a semi-circleand in operation is turned through an angle of approximately 180", and far enough to carry its following extremity past the locking spur,.whereby the latter is enabled to spring into obstructing The spur 8O position with respect to the segment. Thus I the segment is prevented frombeing returned by its spring 68 to starting position until the operator releases the look by pushing on the button or knob 84. Q

The main shaft also actuates the escapement gate 39 01 42. It carries a cam 86 which actuates the arm 87 of a lever which is pivoted at 88, (Figs. 1, 2 and 6), and the'other arm 89 of which overlaps an arm 90 (see also Fig. 9) pivoted by means of a universal joint 91 so that it may swing both horizontally and vertically. This arm 90, in the position shown 11'! Fig. 6, overlies in turn a laterally extending arm 92 on the pivot rod 40 of gate 39. Thus when arm 87 is raised by cam 86, the arm 92 of gate 39 is depressed and the gate is elevated, as shown more plainly by the assembled details of these parts shown in Fig. 16. A spring 93 is connected to arm 90 and to an anchor lug 94 on the frame and normally raises arm 90, in turn pressing lever arm 87 against cam 86 and leaving the gate The arm 92 of gate 39, and a similar arm 95 on the axle rod of gate 42 project horizontally toward each other with a short gap between their inner ends. Switch lever 28 prev ously described has a fork 96- below its pivot embracing arm 90 and so disposed that, when the switch arm is swung over so as to shift the shutter 26 for excluding cigars from the delivery channel 25 and admitting cigarettes thereto, it shifts the arm 90 from the controllingarm 92 of the cigar escapement to the controlling arm 95 of the cigarette escapement. I For distinctivedefinition, the arm 90 may be called a shiftable transmission piece, adapted to be shifted into motion transmitting relation with either escapement gate.

time. Such ejector, see Fig. 10, is a rod or wire 97 arranged to travel to front and rear in an, inclined path along the bottom of the matchmagazine. It is connected witha horizontally moving slide bar- 98 by means of a l and u e joint 100 with such link is guidedby an inclined plate or guide 101 whereby the horizontal straight line movement of. bar 98-.is transmitted into straight line inclined movement of push rod 97.. *Bar 98 slides in a guide channel: 102 on the bottomof the. compartment '7 (Fig. 3),

and carries an upstanding lug103 tov which thereis pivoted, so :that it-may swing about an axis longitudinal to the bar, an" arm 1041 whichextends laterally'tothe cigar ejector bar 56and is adapted to be engaged and dd: vancedbya lug or shoulder 105 on theadjajcentside ofthelatter; A shorter movement than that given'to the cigar ejector is suflicient for the-match ejector, wherefore arm -1 is not engaged by shoulder 105 until the cigar'ejector has accomplished a part of its travel, and it is-releasedbefore thelatter has completed its travel." Such release is effected by a stationary earn 106 (Fig.1). having an inclined lower edge, under which thearmlol passes and by which it is depressed enough tobe disengaged from. the shoulder 105. A

spring 107 returns the match ejector bar 98. This. s'pringis made asa sm ll-V ciently long helix,'which is encased withinthe hollow interior of bar-98, and is connected at one end to thebar, while its other end is anchored to theguide 102.-"Sho'ulder 105 is beveled so that, when on its return 1t encounters arm 104, it will passoverand displace the arm. I

cigar or cigarette and the match thus ejected, are received respectively in the hands or grippers and 18 of the figure. arms of thefigure are then swung forward up with a movementas ofoiferingl these articles to the taker. This movement is caused by the gear segment injthe last part of its partial rotation, whereby its advancing extremity engages and turns agear 108 on ,a shaft 109. This shaft carries an arm 110 which underlaps'the bent end of a crank arm- 111 on ashaft 112 which is ournaled in'the partitions and st beneath the cigar magazine and carries crank arm-113 on its forward 1" 3. ALL! a T) with an arm 115 which projects carwardly from the arm carrying shaft 17 .zhrough aslot in theback of the figure. The advancing' (right hand with respect to Fig. 3) end'of segment 65 reaches gear 108 after substantially completingthe rotation of gear 6 1, and turns the gear 108 through anangle sufficient to move the arms of the mechanical figure to the positionshown in. Fig. 9, from a previous position indicated by dotted lines.

Movement of the mechanism in this manner is limited by a stop 116', herein made-as a pin which projects from the partition 3 across the path of arm 111 in the correct position to prevent ezicessive movement of the armsof the figure,while permittingsufiicient movement'for the -purp'oseli'n view. There is a secondstop 1161 of similar character Fig. 3.

The

The latter arm is coupled by a'link which projects across the path of arm 110 at the opposite side and establishes the normal position of the primary actuator; That is, when the actuatingsegment 65 is returned by its spring 68, it turnsuntil it reaches the point of first mesh with gear 108, which 1neanwhile has'been returned by the springs, later described, of'the arms of the figure, acting through arm 111, until arm 110 has brought upagainst stop 1161. This stopping position of the driving segmentis shown in 'As the arms of the figure start to move so as to deliver the articles ejected from the magazines,.their clamping members 19 and 21-,"corresponding. to the thumbs of hands,

are caused to grip the match and cigar or cigaretterespectively. Y

As shownby Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the fixed part'of the hand18 is formed with a groove or recess, 'and 'the thumb or clamp member "19 is slidable endwise in the arm and has a groove on the side next to the fixed part adapted when slid forward to leave a space wide enough for free entrance of the match from the magazine in the rear. The thumb is normally slid forward into the position shown in 11 by means of a spring 117 contained in 'a socket in the arm, surrounding the shank 11 8 of the thumb piece and reacting between abutments in the arm and on the thumb piece. The thumb piece shank is connected to a spring 119 which passes "from a hole at the rear of'the arm to connection with the partition wall 1. This spring is relaxed whenthe arm is lowered, whereby spring 117 is enabled to, thrust the thumb piece forward. into open o'rreceiving position; But when the arm ismoved upward and forward, spring 119 is immediately put under tension and is powerful "enough to overconie' spring 117 and to pull back the thumb piece into the gripping position shown in Figs. 12 and'13.

' The gripperof the other armis 'substan- I t ially similar to this one, with the exception that the thumb member is pivoted at 120 to the arm 16 so that itcan swing toward and away from the fixedhand portion 20, andit has'an extension which is connected by a i pivot-121 with a rod 122 slidable'inthe arm 16 and connectedwith a' spring 123 which in of such parts andmembers as Will provide suitable bearings'for the. shaft in there la-r bars 56 and 98 are adapted to be inserted by endwise movement from the rear. The sheds 45 and 46 within the magazines are insertablefrom the top when the cover is removed, and

are retained by a leaf'spring 128 whichpasses through a slot in the partition 5,, reacting against an abutment 129 therein, and is so bent that its opposite ends bear on the sheds 45 and 46 respectively. It is to be'understood that the principles of the invention thus illustrated may be embodied in many diverse forms and modifications, wherefore the protection herein claimed is not to be limited, in its broadest aspects, to this embodiment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is: V i

1. A dispensing cabinetcomprising a plurality of magazines, a delivery channel beneath said magazines to which there is an exit from each magazine, a pusher arranged to travel along said channel for expelling articles received therein from either magazine, a gate placeable in one position wherein it closes the passage from the first magazine to the channel while opening the corresponding passage from the second magazine, and in another position where it opens the passage from the firstmagazine and closesthat from the second magazine, and a switching device for moving saidgate from either po-,

sition to the other.

2. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 combmed with an escapemeans in each magazine varm is secured, mechanism connected with said rock shaft for turning it, a main actuator and driven members arranged for operation successively by said main actuator, one of said driven members being coupled to actuate said pusher, and the other to actuate the rock shaft. 7

4. In a dispensing cabinet of the character set forth, delivery means comprising a hearing, a rock shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, an arm secured to the outer end of said rock shaft beside the bearing, a rearlink connected to said stud, crank connected wardly projecting stud on said rock shaft, a r

to said link, a main driving gear, a driven gear, and connections operated by said driven gear for turning-said crank.

5. In a dispensing cabinet of the character setforth, delivery means comprising a hearing, a rock shaftjrotatably mounted in said bearing, an arm secured to the outer end of said rock shaft beside the bearing, a rearwardly projecting stud on said rrock sh aft, a

link connected to saidstud, a crank connected to said link, a main driving gear segment, a driven gear engageable and rotatable by said segment after a preliminary extent of motion by the latter, and connections by which the driven gear operates the crank.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, an oscillatively mounted delivery arm,,a gripper on said arm comprising a fixed part and a movable part, the movable part being so formed and movable as to provide a space for reception of an article when placed in one position, and to reduce such space and grip the article when in a-second position, a spring acting between said arm and movable gripper for placing the latter in its first named position when the arm is in, receiving position, and a spring tension device connected to the movable member and to a fixed anchorage arranged to place-the movable by the first gear, and an article delivc-rer lo-' cated 1n pos tion to receive articles from said propeller and driven by the second gear.

8. A-dispensing cabinet for cigars or cigarettes and matches comprising a cigar magazine, a cigarette magazine, a match magazine, a common outlet from the cigar and'cigarette magazines,shiftable means for deliverlng articles exclusively from either the cigarette or cigar magazine to said common outlet, a separate outlet from the match magazine, oscillatable arms mounted adjacent to said outlets having grippers located, respectively, in receiving relation to the respective outlets, a pusher for transferringan article from the first outlet to one ofsaid grippers, a second pusher for transferring an article from the other outlet to the other gripper mechanism for operating said pushers, and other mechanism for swinging he arms from receiving position to an offering position following toe propelling action of said pushers.

9. A dispenser for cigarsor the like and matches, comprising magazines for such cigars and matches respectively, means for expelling a clgar or the like from one magazine and a match or the like from the other magazine, a support having swinging-arms and grippers at the extremities'of said arms in position to receive in one gripper a cigar and in the other gripper a match, and mechanism for swinging the arms from" receiving position toofiering position.

'10; A dispensing cabinet comprising a magazine, a channel extending ,underfsaid magazine, a pusher movable'back and forth through said channel,an actuator, gearing" driven by said actuator for advancing the pusher to expel an article from the channel,

anism for operating the escapement to re-V lease an article after the pusher'has been advanced. 1

"'11. A dispensing cabinet as set forth inclaim 10, in which the actuator comprises a rotatable shaft and a gear thereon'in mesh with pusher-rdrivlng gearing, and the escape-f m ment-operating.- means comprises a cam, on c said shaft, an arm bearing on said cam, and

motive transmitting means between said arm 7 V and the escapem t V transmitting motion from said actuator to 12. In a dispensing cabinet having two,

magazines with a common outlet channel in' the bottom'towhich articles'in both magazines gravitate, a shuttermovable to'exclude the articles in either magazine from said channel while perm ttlng access to the channel of articles in the other magazine esca'pement devices in the respective magazines, each shiftable' between two pos1t1ons,1n one ofwhich it arrests the article nearest tosaid channel, andinthe otherit'releases that article and obstructs the adjacent article, aims connected respectively with the two escapement' devices, a mam actuator, and meansincluding a shiftable transmission piece for either of said arms,exclusively of the other, so as to operate either escapement device in the manner set forth.

13. In a dispensing cabinet having two ma azines and an esca ement device in each magazine, operating arms for the respective the magazine, dependingfrom its pivot and having aigripper in alinement with such outlet so as toreceive an articleexpelled therefrom, and operating'mechanism for advancing the pusher and then turning the arm about-its pivot in the direction to move its gripper away from the outlet. 7

' 15. Inatabinetotthe class described, a

magazine, a pusher movable to expel articles 7 through an outlet, an "arm having a gripper normally located'to receive the article'soexpelled and beingv movable to carry the article to-deliveringiposition, an actuating gear segment,"a gear in driving connection for advancing'the pusher'in position to be rotated I by the segment in the firstpartof the rota-V ticnithereof, ail-second gear normally outof mesh with the segment but located to be engaged thereby and rotated during the last part of the rotation of the segment, and means 'V i h-th second gear'when so rotated movessaid-arm into article-delivering po-' sition.

16. A cabinet as set'iforthrin claim 15, in which the two gears are so related to the-actuating gear segment that thelatter passes out ofmesh with the first named gear when meshing with the second gear. a 17. A- dispensing cabinet" comprising a magazinefor smokersl articles, a match magazine, delivering arms having grippers, one of which is normally, in position to receive the article expelled'ifrom one magazine and the 'other to receive t'he expelle d match, pushers movable'substantially in unison arranged to displace pieces singly ,from thefse'veral magazines into the "respectively adjacent grippers, actuating means, and mechanism driven by said actuating means for'first moving thepushers in-the manner set-forth, and ft-hen swinging the arms from receiving to delivering position; In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. i

, ALEXANDER B; vALAs.

magazines pivoted side by sideand extending toward one another, an actuating member I movable toward and away from said arms but out of engagement with them, and an intermediate shiftable transmission piece between said actuating member and said arms arranged with capacity for displacement into position for transmitting movements of said actuating member exclusively to one or the other of said'arms,

14:. In a cabinet ofthe class describedfa I 

